KARACHI, June 20: Representatives of the fishermen communities in Keamari Town have urged the government to adopt a shrimp conservation policy to reduced the juvenile mortality.

They proposed that the number of trawlers be reduced to 600, and June and July be observed as a closed season for fish catch. An elder of the Mubarak village, Mohammad Haroon, said since the government has planned to revise the fishing policy, the situation demands that it should take into consideration all ground realities.

In this regard, he suggested that the fishermen be provided with boats with modern gadgets and their skills may be upgraded through training in modern fishing techniques.

He also demanded basic facilities for fishermen villages, adding that his century-old village was still without a proper water supply system and people depend on rainy water.

If facilities are provided, they would be able to harvest the fishery resources of the area between 12 and 35 nautical miles and they can fetch better prices for their harvest through improved marketing.

Another elderly fishermen suggested that the traditional fishing fleet be modernized by providing high power engines, navigational and communication equipment and improvement of dock facilities, in order to enhance their capability to fish in relatively deep waters.

He said improved technologies be adopted through research on fundamentals of fish biology, reproductive physiology, ecology, fish nutrition, health, management, population dynamics and control of aquatic vegetation, especially in natural lakes.